nsb - Luke:15

nsb@Luke:15:1 @ One day a large number of tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus.

nsb@Luke:15:2 @ Pharisees and teachers of the Law complained: »This man welcomes sinners and even eats with them!«

nsb@Luke:15:3 @ Then Jesus told them an illustration:

nsb@Luke:15:4 @ »If you have a hundred sheep and lose one of them, what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one you lost until you find it.

nsb@Luke:15:5 @ »When you find it you are happy. You carry it on your shoulders.

nsb@Luke:15:6 @ »You bring it back home. You invite your friends and neighbors together to celebrate. You say, I am so happy I found my lost sheep.

nsb@Luke:15:7 @ »It is the same. I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine good people who do not need to repent.

nsb@Luke:15:8 @ »Suppose a woman with ten silver coins loses one of them. What does she do? She lights a lamp and sweeps her house. She looks carefully everywhere until she finds it.

nsb@Luke:15:9 @ »When she finds it she calls her friends and says let us celebrate. I am happy I found the lost coin.

nsb@Luke:15:10 @ »I tell you, it is the same for the angels of God who rejoice over one sinner who repents.«

nsb@Luke:15:11 @ Jesus said: »A man had two sons.

nsb@Luke:15:12 @ »The younger one said to him, Father I want my share of the property. He divided his property between his two sons.

nsb@Luke:15:13 @ »In a short time the younger son sold his share of the property. He left home with the money and traveled to a far away country where he wasted his money in reckless living.

nsb@Luke:15:14 @ »He spent everything! When a famine spread over that country he was left with nothing.

nsb@Luke:15:15 @ »He went to work for a citizen of that country who sent him to his farm to take care of the pigs.

nsb@Luke:15:16 @ He wanted to eat the Carob bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat.

nsb@Luke:15:17 @ »Finally it dawned on him, my fathers hired workers have more than they can eat and I am about to starve!

nsb@Luke:15:18 @ »I will go to my father and say: Father I have sinned against God and against you.

nsb@Luke:15:19 @ »I am not fit to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired workers.

nsb@Luke:15:20 @ »He went to his father. He was a long way from home when his father saw him. His heart filled with pity. He ran and threw his arms around his son and kissed him.

nsb@Luke:15:21 @ »Father, the son said: I have sinned against God and against you. I am not fit to be called your son.

nsb@Luke:15:22 @ »The father called his servants. He said: Hurry and bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.

nsb@Luke:15:23 @ »Get the prize calf and kill it. Let us celebrate with a feast!

nsb@Luke:15:24 @ »My son was dead. Now he is alive. He was lost. Now he has been found. The feasting began.

nsb@Luke:15:25 @ »The older son was out in the field. When he came close to the house he heard music and dancing.

nsb@Luke:15:26 @ « He asked one of the servants what was happening?

nsb@Luke:15:27 @ »Your brother returned home, the servant answered. Your father killed the prize calf because he has returned safely.

nsb@Luke:15:28 @ »The older brother was so angry he would not enter the house. His father came out and begged him to come in.

nsb@Luke:15:29 @ »He spoke to his father in anger. All these years I have worked like a slave for you. I have never disobeyed you. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends!

nsb@Luke:15:30 @ »This son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes. When he comes home you kill the prize calf for him!

nsb@Luke:15:31 @ »The father answered, »My son, you are always here. And everything I have is yours!

nsb@Luke:15:32 @ »We had to celebrate and be happy. Your brother was dead. Now he is alive! He was lost and now he has been found!«